​The city of Urbana anticipates wrapping up the fourth phase of the Monument Square roundabout project and starting the fifth phase on Monday, Sept. 23.

The fourth phase closed South Main Street between Monument Square and Market Street on Aug. 16 for water main replacement and roundabout improvements. That part of South Main Street is expected to reopen to traffic Sept. 23.

The fifth phase of the project involves the closure of Miami Street between Monument Square and Walnut Street on Sept. 23. This closure of Miami Street is anticipated to last about five weeks. During construction on Miami Street, access to the Miami Street public parking lot and the adjacent alleyway will be maintained from West Court Street. Local and U.S. route detours will be posted.

After the fifth phase, the entire project area will be resurfaced and re-striped. The entire roundabout project is expected to be completed by Nov. 6.
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Article Staff Report from Urbana Daily Citizen
Submitted photos courtesy of Paul Waldsmith

Local organizations including the Urbana Rotary Club worked together to mark Patriots Day on the 18th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.

A beam from the fallen World Trade Center is a focal point at Freedom Grove, where Wednesday’s “We Will Never Forget” ceremony was held. Freedom Grove is a patriotic park orchestrated and built by Rotarians at the corner of U.S. Route 68 and state Route 55 near the county government’s community center. Freedom Grove also houses the Bicentennial Bell and is a gathering place for citizens of all ages to learn about history.

Urbana Rotary Club President Paul Waldsmith led the coordination of this year’s observance.

“First responders Jamie Shaffner and Craig Evans worked closely with our local VFW/DAV and several other groups to coordinate the annual 9/11 ceremonies,” Waldsmith said. “Without Jamie’s and Craig’s leadership I don’t know this annual event would continue each year.”

Urbana City Schools’ eighth-grade classes attended the bulk of the 9/11 ceremonies. “Junior High Principal Jason Schultz and Urbana Superintendent Charles Thiel were very supportive when the Urbana Rotary Club’s Freedom Grove committee asked them to participate this year,” Waldsmith said. Urbana students walked the Freedom Grove grounds as they viewed 9/11 artifacts and spoke with first responders.

Mercy Health – Urbana Hospital supplied lunch to the participating honor guards, first responders and their families during the event.

Recovery Zone spent many hours this week helping Rotary’s Freedom Grove committee and first responders beautify the grounds of the patriotic park.

Patriots Day mirrored and marked the chronology of events on Sept. 11, 2001, including when each hijacked airliner hit each of the two World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon, as well as the airliner that crashed in Pennsylvania. The ceremony ended with a 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps.

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Submitted Story to Urbana Daily Citizen

The Hartstein/Favorite International Vocational Fund, a fund of The Troy Foundation, provides grants for projects that promote vocational and social economic transfer of knowledge worldwide. Applications for projects that target multi-national development receive preference, but projects involving national participation may be considered. Grants are awarded to mutually benefit and educate students of the Miami Valley and other counties. Projects must benefit juniors, seniors or graduates of high schools or vocational programs in Auglaize, Champaign, Darke, Miami and Shelby counties.
Previously funded grants include international student exchange for vocational or technical education, student internships for vocational or technical education, student apprenticeships in developing countries, international and national vocational/technical study trips and national and international youth club competitions for vocational/technical students.
The deadlines to apply are Feb. 15, May 15, Aug. 15 and Nov. 15.
To download a grant application or for more information, visit here or call Kim Meier, Donor Relations Officer, at 937-339-8935.

​Established in 2006,  The Simon Kenton Chili Cook-Off and Hoopla Parade always takes place on the 4th Saturday in September. The family-friendly event has activities for the children and the adults, so no one will be bored. Rain or Shine...It's always a good time! Attendance and parking at the street festival is FREE.  

​Visit the event's official website and online scrapbook of past Cook-offs for more information and photos. ChiliCookOffofUrbana.com
WHEN: Saturday, September 28th, 2019| 10am - 6pm
WHERE: Historic Downtown Urbana, Ohio
WHAT: 8am - Fire engine signals the start of the Cook-Off
11am - Beer Garden opens, Salsa Judging
Noon - Hoopla Parade begins
1pm - Children's Area & Dunk Tank open
1:30pm - Live music begins
2pm - Chili sampling begins - vote for People's Choice
2:30pm - Corn Hole Tournament begins
3pm - Suck, Chew, Blow contest begins
3:30pm - Pepper Eating contest begins
4:30pm - Announcement of Winners

Christopher Selmek | Urbana Daily Citizen
Photo from Urbana Daily Citizen

Mechanicsburg Police Chief John Alexander (center) on Thursday awarded badges to two police dogs who have completed their training. School Resource Officer Sgt. Chris Roberts (left) and his dog, Chief, completed Alliance of Therapy Dogs training on Aug 30 and are now available to schedule official visits to sites such as retirement homes, courthouses and hospitals for anyone in need of a therapy dog. Officer Matthew Viol (right) and his dog, Kato, completed police dog training in February and are certified to search for drugs, personal articles and people when needed. For more information about either of the police dogs, contact the Mechanicsburg Police Department at 937-834-3303.

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Submitted story to Urbana Daily Citizen

Memorial Health recently announced Jenna Hoffman, Certified Nurse Practitioner, has joined Memorial Oncology & Hematology, effective August 30, 2019. Hoffman, along with lead oncologist Dr. Robert Rupert, is seeing patients at two locations – Memorial Hospital’s main campus in Marysville as well as at the Memorial Urbana Medical Center.
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Born and raised in Champaign County, Hoffman graduated from Triad in 2002. She currently lives on a family dairy farm in Champaign County with her mother and brother and is an avid supporter of all things agricultural, including supporting local foods and products.

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Story by: Christopher Selmek | Urbana Daily Citizen
Photo from Urbana Daily Citizen

​Jim Virts (left) and his wife, Nancy (not pictured), were awarded $2,500 from America’s Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Bayer Fund, which they chose to donate to the nonprofit WhereHouse Food Pantry. Jim Lillibridge, senior pastor of Urbana United Methodist Church (center) and WhereHouse director Ted Herndon (right) said they plan to use all of the money to buy food for families in need, and that the WhereHouse has already served 2,612 households so far this year. In addition to the food pantry, WhereHouse also sponsors a community dinner on the 14th of every month from 6-7 p.m. at their facility at 110 W. Church St.

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